Pune: An unexpected visit from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials to the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Monday (June 24) afternoon caused significant disruptions in the office's operations.
The ACB officers arrived around noon, catching many employees off guard. The sudden appearance of the ACB led to the disappearance of several individuals, particularly those involved in the 'marking' process in the license department.
With the usual 'marking' staff absent, all transactions were carried out legally, leading to thorough inspections of documents by the officers. This meticulous scrutiny resulted in delays, with citizens having to wait in long queues until late into the evening.
The consequences of the raid were felt the following day as well. On Tuesday (June 25), the license department witnessed a heavy influx of citizens, including those whose work remained unfinished from the previous day and those with scheduled appointments.
Despite the availability of 'faceless' services by the state's transport department, many citizens still find it necessary to visit the RTO office. The ACB's arrival on Monday revealed the reliance on traditional methods within the department.
Efforts to contact Regional Transport Officer Archana Gaikwad for comments were unsuccessful. According to sources, there is a system of 'marking' involving vertical lines on applications to denote payments, typically Rs 100 per line, which facilitates the processing of documents.
Due to the absence of these 'marking' staff on Monday, the application process adhered strictly to legal procedures, albeit at the expense of the citizens' time.
The RTO office now faces calls for better crowd management and additional halls to accommodate the increasing number of applicants, a suggestion put forth by Vitthal Mehta, a driving school director in Pune.
